Erroll G. Williams seeks re-election as Orleans’ First Single Assessor

12/11/2013

When Assessor Erroll G. Williams took his oath of office on January 1, 2011, he became the first citywide elected single Assessor for Orleans Parish. He now seeks re-election to that position.

As Orleans Parish Assessor, Williams oversees one of the state’s largest assessment rolls, valued at $4.5 billion, including 166,000 parcels and 10,000 businesses. The parish encompasses nearly 400 residential neighborhoods and 141 commercial corridors.Assessor Williams has more than 35 years of experience in public service, including election as the Third Municipal District’s Assessor for more than 25 years. He is a Certified Louisiana Assessor and holds a Louisiana Real Estate License.

Information about how to apply for a homestead exemption, an age freezeor other special assessment is available online at www.nolaassessor.com.It is important you apply for these special assessments as soonas possible if they have not been applied to your 2013 assessment.Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Assessor Erroll G. Williams will host several question and answer sessions with Business Personal Property Supervisor Mickey Markey to help business owners understand how to fill out the LAT Personal Property self-reporting tax forms. The sessions are free and will offer direct staff assistance regarding completion of the form – a declaration of a businesses’ merchandise/inventory, if applicable, and the cost and year of purchase of fixed assets, such as equipment and furnishings. Interested parties are strongly advised to make reservations as space is limited. Reservations can be made by calling (504) 897-6152 or emailing bcodevin@aol.com. The forms were recently mailed to all commercial entities in Orleans Parish and are due no later than April 30, 2012. The forms are available for download at www.nolaassessor.com.

We’ve been addressed by a number of constituents with concerns regarding their most recent tax bill. As in years past, the vast majority – over 90 percent – of homeowners coming into our office this time of year want to find out why they didn’t receive credit for a Homestead Exemption.

The inconvenience this annually places on homeowners is largely what prompted our efforts to have the Homestead Exemption made permanent in Orleans Parish. If a homeowner has a Homestead Exemption applied to his or her domicile as of January 1, 2012, it will remain on that property as long as the owner lives there. The annual letter notifying you of your homestead xemption will be arriving before the end of February, 2012.

Homeowners who qualify for a Homestead Exemption but did not have it appear on this year’s tax bill will be issued a supplemental Homestead Exemption after visiting our office. This will be retroactively applied and a revised tax bill will be issued, but only after the taxpayer has come by our office with proof of ownership, a valid Louisiana photo ID/driver’s license matching the property address, and a recent unpaid energy bill for the property addressed to the owner. Once the Homestead Exemption is applied to the property, it will become permanent as long it is maintained as the owner’s domicile.

While many constituents visit our office in January for other reasons, I’m confident the permanent Homestead Exemption will result in shorter wait times and fewer surprises on future homeowners' tax bills.

Since there are a large number of property owners coming to City Hall at this time to pay their tax bills, we remind property owners that they can visit our offices about their Homestead Exemption at any time.

I would like to thank the more than 4,000 Orleans Parish property owners who visited my offices since Aug. 1. As we marched toward the close of the rolls at 4 p.m., Aug. 15, the lines grew longer with last-minute visitors. Nevertheless, men and women showed great patience, whether they called, wrote letters about information on our website or actually visited City Hall or our west bank office in the Algiers Courthouse.

More than 43,000 properties were reassessed this year in Orleans Parish. We anticipate at least this many properties will be reassessed every year as we consolidate and update the assessment rolls.

I wish to also thank my staff, the staff of the mayor's office and City Hall, and the New Orleans police officers and deputies from Sheriff Marlin Gusman's office who helped us make this a coordinated process.

I would like to remind citizens that there is never a line "online," and more information about property assessments in Orleans Parish is available at www.nolaassessor.com.

Estimated fair market property values in conjunction with proper information disclosure are the basic building blocks toward fair taxation in our city. Your Orleans Parish assessor and staff are committed to ensuring that all property owners pay their fair share to build and maintain a quality community.

Thank you for helping my office take a significant first step toward updating the property rolls in our community.

Authored by Rep. Jared Brossett and recently signed into law by the Governor, Act 58 requires the Orleans Parish Assessor to provide property owners a form for permanent registration of the Homestead Exemption. Previously, homeowners would have to renew their Homestead Exemptions annually via a return-mail form from the Assessor. It is estimated moving to the permanent Homestead Exemption registration will save more than $60,000 annually. We supported this reform and thank the Legislature for this assistance.

Make sure you know this information andremember: You can claim only ONEHomestead Exemption in Louisiana

Only one Homestead Exemption can be granted per home that is owned and permanently occupied as a domicile by a resident in Louisiana. A Homestead Exemption cannot be applied to a property that an individual owns but does not live in day-to-day. For example, someone cannot live in Atlanta and receive a Homestead Exemption for a home they own in Orleans Parish.

The sessions, which are free, will be held Friday, March 25 and Monday, March 28 from 11 a.m. to noon, 8th floor conference room (8E010) of City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., NOLA 70112. Help will be available to assist in completion of the form, which is a rather simple declaration of a businesses’ merchandise/inventory, if applicable, and the cost and year of purchase of fixed assets, such as equipment and furnishings. Reservations are required by calling (504) 897-6152 or emailing bcodevin@aol.com

Property owners will begin receiving their 2012 Homestead Exemption Applications in the mail. For the $7,500 Homestead Exemption to be applied to the assessed value of one’s domicile, the form must be signed and returned by the homeowner as soon as possible, said Assessor Erroll G. Williams.As required by state law, all property, residential and commercial, will be re-valued in Orleans Parish for the 2012 quadrennial re-assessment, said Assessor Williams. It is important to keep your homestead exemption current. Download the attachment formore information.

Board of Assessors President Tom Arnold facilitated the regular monthly meeting, wherein the seven elected assessors received reports on finances, neighborhood assessment area designations, and the continuing upgrade of the Assessor’s internet system, as located at www.nolaassessors.com. The Board also acted on several public records requests. The next meeting is Oct. 4, 10 a.m., 4th floor of City Hall, Assessors’ Board Room.

Assessor Williams discusses opening of the tax rolls on WWL and WVUE

8/2/2010

Third Municipal District Assessor Erroll Williams speaks to WWL and WVUE about his office's efforts to reappraise properties throughout the district, resulting in a higher value base for many constituents' taxes.

Rolls Open!

8/2/2010

9 am to 4 pm, M-F until Aug. 16

This is the last time you'll be able to visit 7 different Assessors. Assessor Erroll Williams becomes the "consolidated" Assessor on January 1, 2011. He's welcoming those who want to discuss their property assessment.

PROPERTY ROLLS OPEN MONDAY, AUG. 2, 2010

7/30/2010

The public inspection period begins August 2, and ends August 16, 2010, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those disputing an assessment are welcome to visit Assessor Williams’ office, 4th floor Room 4E01, 1300 Perdido Street, City Hall to discuss their concerns. Real property assessment information is also available at www.nolassessors.com.

Appraisers will be available to discuss the assessed value of your property, and to explain the assessment review and appeal process.

“If your notice from my office is addressed to you, but you no longer own this property, or if you are a new owner and the notice is in the previous owner’s name, kindly return the assessment notice with the new and corrected information to the Assessor’s office,” said Assessor Williams.

Assessor Williams reminded homeowners with an adjusted gross income of $64,410 or less, who have a disability, or were born on or before December 31, 1945, and who are currently receiving a Homestead Exemption on a property, to apply to have their 2011 assessment level frozen.

“Please keep in mind that no one can receive an assessment freeze on an assessment that was reduced for hurricane related damages. An application must be filed with the office and all criteria met by the owner,” he said.

Those most likely to experience the impact of the reassessments are property owners who recently improved or demolished their property

Third Municipal District Assessor Erroll G. Williams said residential and commercial property owners may find increases in their property’s valuation due to a reassessment for Year 2011 and the end of a special valuation period reflecting 2005 storm damage.

The majority of properties in the Third District, encompassing all of east New Orleans, sustained prolonged exposure to flood water after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many were appraised at 20 to 30 percent of their pre-storm value in recognition of the loss in value and the cost to make needed repairs, said Assessor Williams. “When property owners receive their 2011 assessments from my office, they may note an increase. To ensure the accuracy and equity of assessments, property records are continually updated to reflect renovations, additions, new construction, land sub-divisions, and demolitions,” said Assessor Williams.